It’s OK to Take a Break

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When life gets overwhelming and something needs to take a back burner, make a list of priorities in order and mark through the last couple on your list. A few years ago, I had to take a break from couponing:

It all started with one week that didn’t seem to have many good deals. So I didn’t shop that week. I was fine with that since I had been building my stockpile since January. I still bought my usual four Sunday papers though so I would have the coupons for the next week.

Well, the next week came along and I didn’t feel like shopping then either. Maybe it was because I saw how well we had gotten along the previous week without shopping. Maybe it was just a couponing burnout. I’m not sure.

Anyway, whatever the reason, it lasted another few weeks, all the while I was still getting usual four Sunday papers for the coupons. Then I was looking at the ads for the week of Mother’s Day. I saw some great ads and planned to go shopping that week. But I told myself the shopping would have to wait until I had all my coupons cut and sorted and my coupon binder up to date. I was certain that I would be able to go shopping closer to the end of the week.

That didn’t happen. I went to the Emergency Room with a gallbladder attack the Monday after Mother’s Day. Ugh. I had surgery to remove my gallbladder and now all is well and I am steadily recovering.

But, while I was in the hospital… ALL of my ExtraBucks EXPIRED!!! Around $30 worth! I felt like kicking myself. Major disappointment to say the least.

Then, a couple days ago, I received an e-mail from the CVS Advisor Panel asking me to take a survey. I readily took it, knowing that if I qualified and completed the survey that I could earn up to $15 ExtraCare Bucks; and if I took it but didn’t qualify to complete it, I would still receive at least a couple ECB’s.

I qualified and completed the survey!! I earned $15 ExtraCare Bucks! This definitely softened the blow of losing about $30 ECB’s!

I knew this was the time to get back in the game of couponing. I was still recovering from surgery and that consisted mostly of resting so I definitely had the time to organize my inches thick stack of coupon inserts that had been piling up the past few weeks.

So that is was I have been doing this past week: cleaning out my coupon binder (was completely sad about the amount that had expired), sorting and cutting weeks worth of coupon inserts, and filling my coupon binder back up with the new coupons it has missed so much.

I admit that I do have a few more coupons to file, but since there won’t be any new coupons this upcoming week, I know I can get that done without the worry of getting behind again.

So, the moral to this long, long story? It’s OK to take a break!! Yes, coupons will expire. Yes, you may lose ExtraCare Bucks or other free money printed from the register. But it’s ok. There will be new coupons next week, and the next week, and the next week. ExtraCare Bucks can be earned again. The deals will still be there. Life will still go on.